UNITED
NATIONS
ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM
Internati
3/ System
GENERAL INFORMATION
U.S. NATIONAL FOCAL POINT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Washington, D.C. 20460
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EPA—840-75-003
U. S. NATIONAL FOCAL POINT
for
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAM INTERNATIONAL
REFERRAL SYSTEM
(UNEP / IRS)
GENERAL INFORMATION
December 1975
U.S Environmental Protection Agency
Region V, Library
230 South Dearborn Street
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Office of Administration
Assistant Administrator for Planning & Management
U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
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International Referral System
United Nations Environment Program
INTRODUCTION
In'June 1972, the International Conference on the Human Environ-
ment was held in Stockholm, Sweden. As a result of this conference,
the United Nations General Assembly in October 1972 established the
United Nations Environment Program as an independent agency of the
UN and designated Nairobi, Kenya as its headquarters.
Recommendation 101 of the Stockholm Conference called for the
establishment of an international referral system which would link
requesters of environmental information to the sources of that informa-
tion. This recommendation was approved by the United Nations General
Assembly at its October 1972 session, and the UNEP Governing Council
scheduled a demonstration of the system for its meeting in Geneva,
September 1974. In the interim a number of experts meetings were held
and task forces established to define the mission and goals and an
operating framework for the system. An effort was begun to staff the
central offices in Nairobi and to develop a computer support system
using the International Computing Center in Geneva.
The major operating concept of the International Referral System
calls for a structure of national focal points each of which will be
responsible for collecting sources of environmental information within
that country, transmitting these sources in the appropriate format to the
System's central directory, and serving as a point of contact for re-
questers of information through the system.
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U. S. Role
Soon after the Stockholm Conference, the United States through
the Department of State, established an interagency committee to serve
as the U. S. Focal Point during the early planning and development
phases in the development of the IRS. The Committee was made up of
representatives of Government Departments and Agencies with major
environmental programs.
The committee chairman, Mr. Melvin Day, represented the U. S. at
the UNEP/IRS meetings. The Committee assisted the State Department
in preparation of U. S. position papers relative to the System, and
provided advice and assistance where it could, to the task forces and
committees concerned with development of the IRS as an operating
system.
The committee continues to operate as a coordinating body for IRS
activities and as a review and guidance committee for the National
Focal Point.
NATIONAL FOCAL POINT
As the International Referral System reached operational status, it
was clear that the interagency committee, without resources at its dis-
posal, could not continue to serve as the U. S. National Focal Point. In
March 1975, the Department of State designated the U. S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) as the U. S. National Focal Point and on
October 6, 1975, EPA formally opened its center at EPA Headquarters
in Washington.
The responsibilities of the U. S. National Focal Point are:
1. Inventory of U. S. Organizations which will participate in IRS.
2. Prepare a National Directory of information sources to be in-
cluded in the IRS International Directory.
3. Conduct a referral service to respond to requests from IRS users
both within the U. S. and from other countries.
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ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
The U. S. National Focal Point has two levels of organizations in the
referral system: subfocal points and sources.
(1) Subfocal point
Subfocal points consist of selected government agencies and non-
governmental organizations which serve as parent organizations of
several sources. An agency or organization is recommended by the
National Focal Point and approved by the Interagency Committee
before it is extended a formal invitation to become a subfocal point.
Upon acceptance of the invitation the agency or organization assumes
the responsibilities for the functions of a subfocal point.
The functions of a Subfocal point are to identify and register
sources within its particular Agency on forms provided by USNFP;
update descriptions of sources as needed and biannually as requested
by USNFP; aid users and the USNFP in denning questions in areas of
its special competence; assist in training UNEP/IRS fellows as properly
requested by USNFP; assist in evaluating the system; and participate in
special meetings on the International Referral System organized by the
National Focal Point.
(2) Source
The National Focal Point accepts the International definition of a
source as a single coherent body of information concerning a single
aspect of the environment. A source may be an independent unit or
part of an organization, or institution. Several sources may have the
same parent organization.
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The function of the source is to accept and respond to questions
submitted to it through the International Referral System in an effective
manner and to participate in evaluation of the system. Sources may raise
questions, as well as submit questions for clients, to the United Nations
Environment Program International Referral System.
Registration
Any organization or part of an organization which is a functional
unit and has information or knowledge on a particular environmental
topic or range of topics and is able and willing to provide appropriate
information when requested to do so through the International Referral
System may register as a source. Sources register on forms provided by
the National Focal Point. These forms request the following information
about a source: description, sponsorship, language, availability, output
and output forms, and subject attribute.
The National Focal Point will compile a directory of registered
sources for inclusion in the International Referral System Directory.
After a source is registered it assumes responsibility for all of the
functions of a source in the International Referral System.
Senior Advisory Committee
A Senior Advisory Committee consisting of five well known Govern-
ment officials with interest and background in environmental programs,
provide objective advice on the role of the Focal Point from a national
viewpoint.
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COMPUTER SUPPORT
Source registration information is being entered into a computer
system operated by the U. S. National Focal Point. From this national
file, the Focal Point will be able to answer inquiries for U. S. Sources,
issue national subject or organizational directories, and provide the
UNEP/IRS Central Unit with a magnetic tape of U. S. sources.
The file contains addresses and contact points, a summary of the
source, functions, and activities, language in which services are provided,
what products are available from the sources, restrictions (if there are
any), and subject index terms. The system may be searched by any of
the descriptive elements and all of this information will be displayed in
the international directory.
Each focal point which wishes to do so, may receive the international
directory on computer tape and may use this file in lieu of transmitting
questions to the UNEP/IRS Central Unit.
The International Computing Center operates an IBM 370/165.
Programs supporting the International Referral System are written in
PL-1 and Cobol.
USE OF SYSTEMS
The International Referral System is designed primarily to serve an
international community of users. These users are expected to access
UNEP/IRS through a national focal point or government agency
which serves that function. The United States National Focal Point
will serve the following community of users: National and local govern-
ment agencies; business and industry; university and research institu-
tions; special and professional organizations; and others concerned with
environmental matters.
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An individual user may access the U. S. National Focal Point through
the local library or information center which normally serves as a source
for environmental information in the area. In the absence of such a
source, the individual may send the inquiry directly to the focal point.
Questions or inquiries should be written in the natural language of
the subject. A user may specify requirements for information from a
particular type of source (i. e., private, industry, government) or in a
language other than English.
Upon receipt of the question the Focal Point searches the national
and/or international directory computer files and furnishes the user
with a listing of sources that are likely to provide the information
requested. It is the responsibility of the user to contact the source or
sources for the actual information.
All referral services are free to users. However, there probably will
be a charge for substantive information. Any such charges or fees are
arrived at by the user and the source, and conditions of mode of pay-
ment is their responsibility. The U. S. National Focal Point will not
become involved in setting and collecting fees for substantive information.
The UNEP/IRS plans to evaluate its services, and improve upon
them when necessary. Users are in the best position to contribute to
such evaluation and sharpening of the service and from time to time
will be requested to provide information on the effectiveness received
from sources to which they are referred.
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MAILING ADDRESS
U.S. National Focal Point (PM-213)
UNEP/IRS
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W. (Room 2902)
Washington, D. C. 20460
CABLE ADDRESS
EPAWSH (TLX # 892758)
TELEPHONE NUMBER
A. C. 202 755-1836
1837
1838
HOURS OF OPERATION
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
daily Monday thru Friday
except holidays
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DATE DUE
protect/on
230 South Dearborn
Illinois 60604
*•**#&$
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